Cancer Clinical Trials Bypass Black Counties. It’s a Health Crisis

Socially vulnerable counties exhibit a notable deficiency in access to cancer clinical trials, as revealed in a research letter featured in JAMA Network Open. Dr. Rishi Robert Sekar and his team from the University of Michigan analyzed the link between social determinants of health (SDOH) and trial availability across 3,142 counties. Their findings indicate that only 49.6 percent of these vulnerable locations hosted trials, compared to 70.0 percent in less vulnerable areas. The lack of representation in clinical trials jeopardizes effective cancer treatment for Black populations and underscores the urgency for equitable healthcare advancements.